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Assad denies connection to sarin gas attack

http://www.timesofisrael.com/

Hinting opposition forces might have used chemical weapons, Syrian president warns that US-led attack will elicit retaliation

Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday denied any connection to the use of chemical weapons in the ongoing civil war in his country and threatened that his allies would carry out retaliatory action if his regime is attacked by Western forces.US Secretary of State John Kerry said the August 21 gas attack near Damascus killed over 1,400 people, including hundreds of children and other unarmed civilians. The attack caused an international uproar and prompted US President Barack Obama to seek Congressional approval of a military strike against Assad’s regime.Assad, in a PBS interview slated to be aired on Monday, said there was not enough evidence to make a conclusive judgement about the alleged chemical attack.

Speaking on the phone with CBS from Syria, interviewer Charlie Rose said Assad denied his army had any chemical weapons: “He denied that he knew there was a chemical attack, notwithstanding what has been said and notwithstanding the videotape. He said there’s not enough evidence to make a conclusive judgment. He would not say even… even though I read him the lead paragraph of The New York Times today in the story about their chemical weapons supply. And he said I cannot confirm or deny that we do have them. He did, however, say that if in fact we do have them — and I am not going to say Yes or No — they are in centralized control and no one else has access to them.” According to Rose, the most important thing Assad said is that “there has been no evidence that I used chemical weapons against my own people.” Rather, the Syrian president once again suggested opposition troops were behind the attack. Rose reported that Assad also said his forces “were obviously as prepared as they could be for a strike” against them, even though he wasn’t certain the US would indeed attack him or his regime. Assad, he said, warned the US and reminded it that previous operations in the Middle East had “not been a good experience.” In addition, the president “suggested that there would be — among people that are aligned with him — some kind of retaliation if a strike is made.”

Silencing Afghanistan's future

THE TIMES OF INDIA

The brutal killing of the Bengali writer and women's rights activist, Sushmita Banerjee, in Paktika province of eastern Afghanistan is a tragic end to a brave life and a reminder of the extraordinary risks Indians take to foster a better world. Banerjee's cold-blooded murder by Islamist terrorists is an attempted assassination of the universal ideas she stood for in a bleak environment of generalised war and religious fundamentalism. What did Banerjee represent? Her values posed a serious threat to the extreme forms of patriarchy emanating from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. She became a martyr in the meat grinder of war zones where voices of dignity and decency are silenced by the gun to sustain the ideological basis for cultural repression of society. That Banerjee had opened a medical dispensary for women in the early 1990s from her home in Afghanistan drew the ire of the then newly ascendant Taliban. Despite the fact that she had converted to Islam for safety and acceptance into her Afghan husband's family, her origin as an Indian and her attempt to mobilise local Afghan women around the issue of healthcare were interpreted by hardcore Islamists as an unacceptable combination that had to be terminated. Hardline Islamists are riled by individuals or groups that could show by example, even if they are apolitical in their advocacy, visions of alternative futures for women. Banerjee's stated aim of working to raise awareness about "the conditions women in Afghanistan live under" and her missionary zeal to keep going back to that country to "free" its women through quiet, grassroots-based interventions disturbed the Islamist world view of the female as subordinate and incapable of determining the socio-economic structures. Banerjee's quest for finding meaning in her own life by supporting her Afghan sisters bears strong parallels to that of the Pakistani teenager and international celebrity, Malala Yousafzai, who miraculously escaped death after being shot in the head by the Taliban in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Control over the mind and the body are essential for Islamists to maintain their authority on civilian populations living under their thumb. The Taliban know that education and health are the key variables that have long-term impact in undermining radicalism and obscurantist restrictions on women. Both Banerjee and Malala were deemed 'enemies of the faith' on the grounds that they were subtly posing a challenge to the conservative moral universe constructed by Islamists and their followers in the Pashtun communities of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Insurgent groups fighting against their governments and foreign enemies do not tolerate insubordination or sedition among their own constituents on whose behalf they wage their self-determination wars. Banerjee, who had integrated well into Afghan society and taken the name Sayeda Kamala, was a "traitor" in the eyes of her assassins for disseminating the wrong messages that were corrupting women to take charge of the well-being of their families. Although Afghanistan has witnessed repeated targeted killings of Indian civilians as a means of scaring away the Indian government's reconstruction programmes, an estimated 3,000 of them continue to serve there in the United Nations system, in aid agencies, in consulates and embassies and in private corporations involved in reconstruction work. What makes them tick in an environment where being Indian is a life-endangering tag? My interactions with some of them elicited responses that they love performing their 'duty' towards their employers. The fairly large cohort of Indian professionals continues to stay its ground in Afghanistan despite hostile circumstances and renders services with trademark Indian efficiency and conscientiousness. The Taliban, the Haqqani network, the Lashkar-e-Taiba and other anti-India forces closely associated with Pakistan's intelligence services have taken many cheap shots at these committed Indian citizens out of spite for India's popularity and influence in Afghanistan. Strategic fears of a lasting liberal Indian impact on Afghanistan's culture and economy are also background factors for the terrorist strikes on Indian nationals. Banerjee was a rare species lacking publicly known connections to governments, international organisations or private enterprises. The usual suspicion in a war zone that an Indian national like her could also be a spy for India's external intelligence agencies in Afghanistan would have added to the venomous rationale which took her life. But her solidarity with Afghan women derived neither from official strategic intent of New Delhi nor the liberal discourse of international institutions that dot the war-ravaged landscape of Afghanistan. Her story was deeply personal — one of marrying an Afghan for love by defying social taboos in Hindu society and then adopting the struggle of Afghan women as her own. She was a symbol of the free Indian spirit that operates non-violently and altruistically at the global level by integrating into local milieus in different corners of the world and trying to transform its surroundings in a progressive direction. At the time of her untimely death, she was authoring a new book whose protagonist was an Afghan girl child trying to navigate the Taliban's sexual terrorism. Sushmita Banerjee was an international Indian who gave her life to inspire like-minded souls to keep doing the right thing. Her ghastly end is a reminder that Afghanistan needs more purposeful and sustained external support for individuals sticking their necks out to improve the social indicators of that country.

Pakistan: Lesson not learnt

Pakistan’s affair with extremist jihadi groups has risen in passion instead of abating amidst international pressures and the mounting terror attacks within the country by the terrorists. The Defence Day of Pakistan was celebrated on September 6 with the usual traditional fervour, eulogizing those who did and did not do much to win one of the series of confrontations that Pakistan provoked in its judgment to bring India down to its knees on the Kashmir issue. Under the layers and still carefully tucked away, the truth might never surface to allow the people to know that the passion of the 1965 war Pakistan pines for every year whenever any collective misery falls on it, has been raised on a façade about an enemy next door who attacked us in cowardly fashion and without warning or a formal declaration of war and not as retaliation for our infiltrating commandos into Indian-held Kashmir across the cease fire line. Indeed the field officers and the foot soldiers fought bravely in defence of the motherland under attack but the political and military leadership commanding the war came out as incompetent from the planning to the execution stage. The political leadership had ccnvinced itself that India would not dare attack across the international border despite Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s explicit warning and the military command was lulled into not preparing for such an eventuality. By the end of the 17-day war, we were running out of fuel and other supplies, including ammunition. Fortunately, the Soviets came to our rescue; had it not been so, September 6 might have added another dark chapter to our chequered history of wars against India. Yet we refuse to learn any lessons from this and other experiences. This defence day saw a plethora of religious parties on the streets showering kudos on the 1965 war martyrs, and putting feathers in the army’s cap for defending the country against the aggressors India. This was the gist of Hafiz Saeed’s commentary he made in Islamabad on Defence Day to a crowd of 10,000. Hafiz Saeed went all the way to the capital city Islamabad to celebrate the day, raising questions once again about the freedom granted to him in the public space. One, who paid for this elaborate arrangement, accommodating, a crowd of 10,000 people? The show was provided security and those attending it given a free hand to spray verbal hatred against the ‘perenniel’ enemy. Who gave permission for all this and was Hafiz Saeed’s speech vetted before being allowed to be delivered? Hafiz Saeed is not an ordinary jihadi. He is accused of being the mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks in 2008. He carries a head money of $ 10 million imposed by the US. Previously he led Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was banned in 2002 by Musharaf. His credentials are simmering with India hatred, yet his speech against India was allowed on Defence Day. What does it show? On the one hand Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is talking of peace and normalisation with India, and on the other anti-India sentiments are fanned at the behest of the establishment. It is unfortunate that Pakistan is still stuck with its duplicitous approach and insists on smearing the truth and distorting history, forgetting that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Zardari back into public

Daily Times

President Asif Ali Zardari stepped down on Sunday, leaving his official residence after a record five years in power overshadowed by worsening security and a weakening economy.

The 58-year-old widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was treated to an honour guard from the armed forces and shook hands with staff before leaving the plush presidential palace. He was driven away in a black luxury saloon car from the sprawling residence at the foot of the lush green Margalla Hills. Never popular and always shrouded in controversy, Zardari – once jailed for 11 years for alleged corruption – is now likely to split his time between Pakistan and Dubai. He retires six years after his wife’s murder, having presided over the only civilian government in Pakistan to complete a full term in office and hand over to another at the ballot box. His successor Mamnoon Hussain is to be sworn in today (Monday). Zardari is going to Lahore, hoping to open a new era for his Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which suffered a humiliating electoral defeat to the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) in May. Aides deny that Zardari, unpopular and divisive within the PPP, will spend most of his time abroad and insist he will concentrate on trying to revive the centre-left party. The PPP ran a rudderless general election campaign and has been thrust into its greatest crisis, suffering a crushing electoral defeat without a Bhutto at its helm. Zardari said in an interview broadcast on Saturday that he would not run as prime minister in future and would instead re-organise the party by shuttling around the country. Zardari has earned a rare distinction of being the only democratically elected president in the 66-year-long history of Pakistan to have completed a full five-year constitutional tenure. The activities of Zardari as the head of state formally came to an end following the ceremony of farewell guard of honour by the smartly turned out contingent of the armed forces in the Presidency. He will today (Monday) attend the oath-taking ceremony, as former president, of the newly elected president, Mamnoon Hussain. This will also be another fresh addition in the political and democratic history of the country. Zardari on Sunday reached Lahore airport from Islamabad where Punjab Minister for Agriculture Dr Farukh Javeed gave him a reception on behalf of the provincial government of the PML-N. Later, he left for Bilawal House in Bahria Town by a helicopter where his party workers welcomed him with slogans of “Jeay Bhutto” and “Welcome Zardari”. PPP arranged a special ceremony in honour to its co-chairman in which around two thousand party workers and leaders, including Aitzaz Ahsan, Latif Khosa, Rehman Malik, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Jahangir Badr, Farooq Naik, Qamar Zaman Kaira, and Samina Ghurki. Addressing the party workers, Zardari said parliament and democracy had been strengthened and women empowered during his presidential term and now they would go ahead in the same way. He assured Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that the PPP would fully support him against all anti-democracy forces that believe in “politics of guns”. He said that he had promised Nawaz Sharif that his party would stand by him against the enemies of Pakistan. Zardari said that some international forces wanted to upset the situation in Pakistan and “his party’s mandate was snatched in the general elections”, but they accepted it for the sake of strengthening democracy. Zardari said that his party was not defeated in the war (of democracy) and looking ahead to the next elections. He was sure about a comeback of his party and said that they had set new trends in politics. According to party sources, Zardari is likely to travel back to Islamabad today (Monday) to participate in the oath-taking ceremony of the new president. Later, he will return to Lahore to hold party meetings.

Shots fired at Indian post by Pakistan snippers

Shots were fired at an Observation Post (OP) of BSF in Akhnoor sub-sector of Jammu district by Pakistani snippers on Sunday prompting Indian troops to retaliate. "There was sniping attempt from Pakistan side today. One sniper round came from across on OP in Maljodha Border Out Post (BoP)," a BSF officer said.The jawan deployed at OP narrowly escaped. "There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing," officer said. Troops guarding the borderline in Akhnoor sub-sector of Jammu district retaliated, he said. This is the third incident of snipper firing from Pakistan on Indian posts along IB in Jammu frontier areas during over a period of one month.

Two Deadly Attacks in Afghanistan

Underscoring the continued threat to civilians in Afghanistan, a drone strike in an eastern province killed up to 16 people, Afghan officials said Sunday, while a Taliban assault in another province killed four intelligence officers and wounded more than 120 civilians. The drone strike occurred Saturday afternoon in the Watapur district of Kunar Province, a stronghold for the insurgency ensconced in hard-to-access mountainous terrain. Afghan officials said the drone was targeting four insurgents who were picked up along the road by a truck with civilians riding in it, though reports differed on the number of passengers. Women and children were among the dead, the officials said. “The insurgents often force local drivers to give them rides in their trucks,” said the Kunar police chief, Abdul Habib Saidkhail. Coalition officials confirmed the strike, which they said killed 10 insurgents. Officials said that they had no initial reports of civilian casualties, but that they would investigate. President Karzai condemned the drone strike Sunday, calling the attack on women and children against all international norms. The president did not appear to immediately wade into the debate over drones in the short statement. The Taliban attack occurred Sunday morning in the capital of Wardak Province, Maydan Shahr, where a vehicle packed with explosives detonated outside of the Afghan intelligence headquarters. Five insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles then tried to breach the building, said Gen. Jamil Khan, the deputy police chief of Wardak Province, but they were quickly killed. At least four agents for the National Directorate of Security were killed in the attack, as well as a police officer. The bomb, which rocked the area around the provincial directorate offices, spread shards of shrapnel glass and wood into the surrounding area, wounding a number of civilians, a spokesman for the governor’s office said. Wardak and Kunar have long been hotbeds of the insurgency during the American-led war and now that Afghan forces are mostly in control of security. Parts of Wardak, particularly along the main highway in districts like Sayadabad, have been plagued by violence. Parts of Kunar have grown safer, but on the whole the province remains a magnet for foreign insurgents crossing over from Pakistan. While the conflict in Wardak has essentially been a ground fight, Kunar has far less hospitable terrain, making the use of air power more attractive and raising the risk of civilian casualties. With Kunar’s rugged terrain, a combination of steep mountains covered in dense foliage, positioning troops is exceptionally hard. With the withdrawal of many of its troops from the area, the international coalition is now forced to rely on air power to combat the insurgency. The American drone campaign seeks to kill insurgent leaders, especially in Kunar, one of the few provinces where members of Al Qaeda remain in hiding. “The major challenge for our security forces is the presence of foreign fighters in Kunar because they are well trained and equipped and support the Afghan Taliban,” said Col. Hayatullah Aqtash, the Second Brigade commander. “That’s why the drones usually used to attack them.” In Kunar, civilian casualties have been a sticking point for the coalition forces. In February, an airstrike in Kunar killed as many as 11 civilians, prompting President Hamid Karzai to forbid Afghan forces from turning to NATO or American forces to conduct airstrikes. In April, another airstrike in Kunar was thought to have killed at least 10 children after a foiled attempt to capture a Taliban commander led to a sustained gun battle between special forces troops and insurgents. Conflicting reports about the exact cause of the civilian deaths muddied the blame, but the use of air support was still enough to stoke the ire of the government, which denounced the deaths of innocent Afghans. More broadly, the coalition has drastically reduced the number of civilian casualties stemming from airstrikes, after adopting more rigid rules for such attacks. Still, civilians have borne the brunt of the violence in this decade-long war, and as coalition troops continue their transition away from combat roles, the trend appears to be getting worse. The number of civilians killed or wounded in the first six months of 2013 rose by 23 percent compared with the same period a year before, with most of the deaths attributed to the insurgency, according to a United Nations report.

Forced Pakistani Marriage Leads To Arrests

Police in northwestern Pakistan's Swat district have arrested seven men for attempting to force a 16-year-old girl into marriage to settle a family dispute. Those arrested include the girl’s father, the prospective groom and his father, and four tribal elders who allegedly brokered the deal. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison. The case in the village of Shah Dherai was brought to the attention of authorities by the girl's brother after she attempted to commit suicide rather than go through with the marriage. Pakistan's parliament criminalized the dispute-settling tribal tradition, known as "swara," in 2004. But the law is not often enforced because girls rarely complain to authorities about the involvement of their own families in the practice.

Pakistan: Increase in oil prices

As widely anticipated, the government has raised the prices of petroleum products by up to Rs 5.89 per litre with effect from 1st September, 2013. The price of petrol has been increased by Rs 4.64 to Rs 109.14 per litre while the new price of HSD is Rs 112.26 per litre. The price of kerosene, which is generally used as a fuel for stoves in remote areas where LPG is not readily available, sees an increase of Rs 4.71, bringing its price up from Rs 101.28 to Rs 105.99 per litre. The price of LDO, mainly used for industrial purposes, has gone up by Rs 2.31 to Rs 98.43 per litre and that of HOBC, used mainly for luxury cars, has soared by Rs 5.89 to Rs 138.33 per litre. The price of HSD which was proposed to be increased by Rs 3.57 per litre has, however, been raised only by Rs 2.50 per litre, following the directive of the Prime Minister, to facilitate agriculture and transport sectors. Total subsidy on HSD now stands at Rs 3.63 per litre. The government has cited a rising trend in the international prices of oil as the sole reason for raising the domestic prices of POL products though rapid depreciation of the rupee must have also been partly responsible for the substantial rise in oil prices. As is obvious, the government has also passed on the full impact of increase in prices of all petroleum products except HSD to domestic consumers. The increase in oil prices by such a substantial margin, needless to say, would have a negative impact on economy and the lives of ordinary people. Higher oil prices would slow down business and industrial activity and depress growth prospects of economy which could further accentuate unemployment and poverty in the country. Prices of most of the commodities and services would increase almost in direct proportion to the rise in the prices of POL products which is likely to be very painful for ordinary people, especially at a time when inflation is likely to be in double digits and there are hardly any prospects for gainful employment. All of this could create chaos in society and law and order situation could go from bad to worse. It is unfortunate that the government had to raise the prices of petroleum products when floods have caused huge damage to the paddy and cotton crops and the GDP growth rate is likely to be reduced from the present target of 4.4 percent. However, it could be plausibly argued that the government had no choice in the matter and had to bite the bullet as a reduction in the budget deficit was the top most priority of the country at the moment and it had to use every option to raise higher level of revenues. Had the government not raised the prices of POL products, it would have been forced to borrow more from the banking system, leading to accentuation of price pressures and higher depreciation of a battered rupee. Passing the full impact of change in international oil prices and adjusting it with the change in rupee parity for the domestic market could also be a pre-condition of the EFF programme with the IMF. Nonetheless, in our view, it was better for the government to absorb a part of the impact of a rise in international prices in the budget to reduce the burden on ordinary consumers because of its claim to contain current expenditures and a sharp increase in taxes collected by the FBR during July, 2013. In particular, petroleum levy on oil products could be somewhat reduced to yield the targeted revenue when prices are ruling higher. The government needs to know that successive sharp increases in oil prices have made the lives of ordinary people very difficult and burdening them further may be unjust. Also, the price of kerosene oil should have been revised upwards by a lower margin because of its impact on the very poor and downtrodden people who reside in far-flung areas of the country and have no access to cheap gas. In the meantime, let us hope and pray that the crises in Syria and Egypt are over soon and oil prices in the international market revert to their previous levels so that people could expect some relief from surging oil prices next month.

Bilawal Bhutto: Democracy has arrived, we have won the war

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari says his father President Asif Ali Zardari sacrificed 11 and half years of his life as a political prisoner fighting for democracy in Pakistan. In a message on social networking website on Sunday , the PPP chairman said: “President Asif Ali Zardari lost his wife and I lost my mother in this battle, but we have won the war. Democracy has arrived” The message came hours before the president is going to receive guard of honor on the last day in the presidency after completing his five-year constitutional term.

The Charisma of President Asif Ali Zardari

http://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/

by Imdad Pitafi (MPA Sindh Assambly)

President Asif Ali Zardari creates history today by making room for President Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan Muslim League (N). His name will be written in golden letters in the history of Pakistan. He is the first ever democratically elected president of the country to have successfully completed his five year tenure. Almost all his predecessors were either removed unceremoniously or were forced to leave the presidency under pressure and duress. Kudos to his statesmanship and acumen. This is for the first time in the history of Pakistan that a democratically elected government hosted a grand luncheon to bid farewell to a democratically elected president on successful completion of his five year constitutional tenure. Unlike his predecessors, President Asif Ali Zardari neither broke any democratic tradition nor tried to suspend or put in abeyance any article of the constitution of Pakistan. On the other hand he paved the way for democracy to flourish and march ahead. He showed utmost respect for judiciary as the custodian of democracy by sending home two of his chosen Prime Ministers. Mr. Zardari entered and vacated the presidency in a democratic manner. It was during his tenure that free and impartial general elections were peacefully held in which his party lost to the rival Muslim League (N). He respected peoples’ mandate and handed over power to the winning party in a purely democratic manner without any hitch or hesitation. He foiled all attempts of anti-democratic forces to derail democracy. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari possesses several qualities of a great statesman which are rare. He never loses his cool inspite of sudden and serious provocations. He excels in the art of reconciliation which is his unfailing tool and main weapon. He always demonstrated unusual fortitude and courage against all odds a number of times and successfully captained his team to the victory stand. His democratic government’s achievements are virtually uncountable which include revival of the 1973 constitution, historic constitutional amendments with a remarkable consensus, particularly the 18th amendment, empowerment of Gilgit-Baltistan, consensus approval of the 7th NFC Award, financial and administrative empowerment of the provinces, initiation of Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan Package, financial protection of 75 lac poor families through Benazir Income Support Programme and distribution of 12% share of 80 government institutions among 50 lac workers through BESOS. It is he only who increased Balochistan’s share from 5.1% to 9.1% in the 7th NFC Award. Allocation of 90% quota in all jobs at the Gwadar Port is his another contribution to the welfare of Baluch masses. His major economic reforms include payment of Rs.2 billions as the first installment of Rs.10 billions out of Rs. 120 billion outstanding provincial dues by the federal government, setting up a new record of US $ 17 billion foreign exchange reserves, transfer of 30% shareholding out of the federal government’s 50% shareholding in Saindak Project to Balochistan, leveling of 10,000 acres of land to be irrigated with Mirani Dam, construction of canals and such several other measures. Conclusion of Pak-Iran gas pipeline agreement and agreement with the People’s Republic of China on Gawadar Project also deserves due credit and appreciation. President Zardari took many concrete measures to help improve the economy and ameliorate the lot of common man. It was the Peoples’ government which reinstated thousands of public servants thrown out of jobs during the last 13 years. It was again the Peoples’ government which regularized thousands of employees working on temporary contract basis. Resumption of trade union activities and distribution of shares among as many as 5 lac industrial workers is another remarkable achievement of the Peoples’ government during President Zardari’s tenure. Provision of cheap tractors to the unaffording farmers through the Benazir Tractor Scheme is once again a commendable contribution of Mr. Asif Ali Zardari. His developmental projects also include the Faisalabad-Multan Motorway, besides construction of thousand miles of roads in different areas. A man of steel nerves, President Asif Ali Zardari would always be remembered as the introducer and promoter of the policy of appeasement, tolerance and reconciliation in the intolerance ridden political culture of Pakistan. He proved his mettle as a true benefactor of democracy besides being a loyal trustee of the legacy of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed both of whom sacrified their precious lives at the altar of democracy.

Zardari leaves President House after farewell guard of honour

President Asif Ali Zardari was given a farewell guard of honour by the smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan’s armed forces at the President House on Sunday. Smiling Zardari reached the ceremony which was attended by several politicians on a horse-cart. The outgoing president shook hands with staff before leaving the President House. He was driven away in a black luxury saloon car from the sprawling residence.

Asif Ali Zardari has earned a rare distinction of being the only democratically elected President in the 66-year long history of Pakistan to have completed a full five-year Constitutional tenure. President Asif Ali Zardari left the President House for Lahore where he is scheduled to address PPP workers at the Bilawal House. On September 9, he will be attending the oath-taking ceremony, as former president, of the newly elected President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain. This will also be another fresh addition in the political and democratic history of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.